In Thomas Hardy's "The Trumpet-Major" (1880), which is set during the Napoleonic Wars, the main characters go to see a play in Budmouth: "To-night it was one of Colman’s, who at this time enjoyed great popularity, and Mr. Bannister supported the leading character." Charles Bannister (1738-1804) was an English actor and singer who was widely celebrated for his performance as Caliban in William Shakespeare's "The Tempest". "Colman" is probably George Colman the Younger (1762-1836), whose play "The Iron Chest" premiered in 1799 with Bannister in the cast. But it could also be his father George Colman the Elder (1732-1794), if any of his plays were still being produced after his death. (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 12 November 2024)
Update, 13 November 2024: A friend on Facebook quoted the manuscript of Hardy’s novel, which names Colman’s play as “The Heir at Law”, and added that “Bannister” is more likely to be Charles’s son John Bannister (1760-1836).
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